Germany has vowed to continue backing Ukraine’s security even as political unease grows over the possibility of sending troops after a peace deal. Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Lars Klingbeil said during a visit to Kyiv on Monday that “reliable security guarantees” were vital for Ukraine’s future and that Germany would meet its international obligations. The pledge follows high-level meetings in Washington, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed postwar security with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European allies.

Security Guarantees And International Talks

Klingbeil stressed that Germany was coordinating closely with partners to ensure any peace process led by Washington produced concrete security measures. Merz, in office since May, has sought to position Germany as one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters and signaled openness to joining France and the UK in deploying troops to Ukraine once fighting ends. Trump has indicated the U.S. would provide air support but not ground forces, leaving European nations to take the lead on deployments.

Political Unease In Germany

The idea of sending German soldiers remains contentious. Within Klingbeil’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), several figures have urged caution, arguing that it is premature to discuss troop deployments before peace talks even materialize. Markus Söder, leader of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, warned that without U.S. participation “the idea makes no sense.” CDU foreign minister Johann Wadephul also raised concerns about overstretching the Bundeswehr, which is already committed to building up a 5,000-strong presence in Lithuania to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.